“What helps [students] during [their] four years [in high school] will shape [their] future [and] being part of that was really important [to me],” Skelly said. “My parents came to this country when I was two years old and I feel a debt of gratitude to the universe for all the opportunities I’ve been given. That motivates me to do some good for other people and given my skills and background, I was drawn to be a superintendent.”
During his time as the SMUHSD superintendent, Skelly has accomplished various projects including sustaining the athletics program amid the pandemic, increasing the English Language Development program, expanding the mental health and wellness program and initiating the family engagement coordinator programs at every school.
“I strive to have the capacity that [Skelly] does in terms of his ability to understand the wide array of topics and challenges that superintendents face,” said Deputy Superintendent Kirk Black. “From curriculum to supporting students’ mental health on top of [his work] as a superintendent … he’s been able to do that both in this district and in the district where he was the superintendent before.”
“He’s dedicated many years to schools and community work to ensure students have a quality education”
Superintendents are employed to lead the school district and implement school board decisions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, decisions on schooling and how to keep students safe have heavily relied on superintendent decisions.
“In the last couple years, we’ve had COVID-19 [which] has ended the careers of a lot of superintendents because it was so new and different,” Black said. “For [Skelly], he got stronger during the pandemic. He never shied away from the challenges and got all of our students’ Chromebooks and internet service in very short order [and] increased communication to where he was writing to parents and teachers all the time, giving both uplifting messages [and] also specific guidance.”
As a superintendent, Skelly has been responsible for administrations across the SMUHSD. With hundreds of students and staff members reliant on constant updates, Skelly has been able to keep up with the workload and support Aragon Principal Valerie Arbizu.
“Since becoming a principal, I have known that any time I need an answer to a question or supervision help for an event, he is just a text or phone call away,” Arbizu said. “I have felt very supported by Dr. Skelly in my first two years in this position, and I’m grateful for that.”
“I have felt very supported by Dr. Skelly in my first two years in this position, and I’m grateful for that”
It is still uncertain who will replace Skelly after his retirement and decisions on the election have not been made. Due to the high responsibility and duties of a superintendent, the Board of Trustees will decide what happens.
“He’s dedicated many years to schools and community work to ensure students have a quality education,” said Julia Kempkey, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction for the SMUHSD. “It’s been a hard couple years, so I’ve appreciated having an experienced superintendent to work with us. With him retiring, … it can seem unsettling, but we’re pretty stable in terms of our staff, school leaders, principals and assistant principals … across the district.”
Skelly is ready to take this next phase of his life.
“My parents are older and I feel a calling to spend more time with them and be involved in their lives,” Skelly said. “I also think that if you do a job for a really long time, you can get stale. I’ve sort of said what I can say, and now it’s time to hand it off to somebody else.”
